After the fall of the Maurya Empire in 185 B.C. India went through a period of political unrest and division.
Social:
In the Gupta Empire they used the Brahmanical social order. They classified people, the people high in society were Brahmins, and the lowest in society were the untouchables. They expressed their allegiance to their god through their devotional activities, service to the poor, and patronage of the temple movement; they were kings but also servants, and this pattern of kingship is also found in different periods of Indian history. Women enjoyed more freedom then they had in previous dynasties, they were taught to read and write; some women became philosophers.
The social supremacy of the Brahmins is also reflected in the economy of the Gupta period, as attested by the frequency of tax-free land grants made to them. Villages, along with their inhabitants, revenue due to the king, and even administrative and judicial rights, were transferred to the religious beneficiaries. With the emergence of a localized self-sufficient economy, characterized by the decline of trade and urban centres, land grants to secular officials (either in lieu of salary or as a reward for services) also became popular. As a result, the freedom of the peasantry was curtailed and their mobility was restricted.
Political:
Chandragupta’s son Samudragupta conducted a campaign of expansion that established the largest political unit in South Asia at that time. According to an inscription, Samudragupta uprooted kingdoms and waged wars of extermination along the valleys of the Ganges and Yamuna rivers.
Chandragupta II conquered the western part of India creating the largest empire India had seen in 500 years and bringing the Guptas to power. He also forged an alliance with the Vakataka dynasty of the Deccan plateau through the marriage of his daughter, thereby extending Gupta influence over most of central India. The range of gold, silver, and copper coins issued by the Guptas indicates that the imperial administration exercised close control over a lively economy throughout northern and central India.
-The Gupta Political System gave considerable power to local leaders
-Over these five centuries of political violence, the caste system became even more sharply defined; the number of sub-castes or jati increased dramatically
Religion:
In the Gupta Empire, the main religions are Hinduism and Buddhism. Hinduism:
-The three-in-one god known as “Brahman,” which is composed of: Brahma (the creator), Vishnu (the Preserver), and Shiva (the Destroyer).
- The Caste System.
-Karma. The law that good begets good, and bad begets bad. Every action, thought, or decision one makes has consequences – good or bad – that will return to each person in the present life, or in one yet to come.
-Reincarnation. Also known as “transmigration of souls,” or “samsara.” This is a journey on the “circle of life,” where each person experiences as series of physical births, deaths, and rebirths. With good karma, a person can be reborn into a higher caste, or even to godhood. Bad karma can relegate one to a lower caste, or even to life as an animal in their next life.
- Nirvana. This is the goal of the Hindu. Nirvana is the release of the soul from the seemingly endless cycle of rebirths. Buddhism:
The Three Trainings or Practices:
1. Sila: Virtue, good conduct, morality. This is based on two fundamental principles:
- The principle of equality: that all living entities are equal.
- The principle of reciprocity: This is the "Golden Rule" in
Christianity -- to do onto others as you would wish them to do
onto you. It is found in all major religions.
2. Samadhi: Concentration, meditation, mental development. Developing one's mind is the path to wisdom which in turn leads to personal freedom. Mental development also strengthens and controls our mind; this helps us maintain good conduct.
3. Prajna: Discernment, insight, wisdom, enlightenment. This is the real heart of Buddhism. Wisdom will emerge if your mind is pure and calm.
The Eightfold Path:
The Buddha's Eightfold Path consists of:
-Panna: Discernment, wisdom:
1) Samma ditthi Right Understanding of the Four Noble Truths
2) Samma sankappa: Right thinking; following the right path in life
-Sila: Virtue, morality:
3) Samma vaca: Right speech: no lying, criticism, condemning, gossip, harsh language
4) Samma kammanta Right conduct by following the Five Precepts
5) Samma ajiva: Right livelihood; support yourself without harming others
-Samadhi: Concentration, meditation:
6) Samma vayama Right Effort: promote good thoughts; conquer evil thoughts
7) Samma sati Right Mindfulness: Become aware of your body, mind and feelings
8) Samma samadhi Right Concentration: Meditate to achieve a higher state of consciousness
The Five Precepts:
These are rules to live by. They are similar to the 10 commandments.
1. Don't kill.
2. Don't steal.
3. Don't lie.
4. Don't misuse sex.
5. Don't consume alcohol or other drugs.
Intellectual:
-The concept of infinity and "0" (zero) were founded during the Gupta Empire
-Indian mathematicians developed numerals
-Astronomers calculated the value of Pi: 3.1416
-Astronomers also discovered that earth was spherical and rotated on an axis
Medicine:
-Gupta physicians made discoveries about human anatomy and disease
-Physicians set broken bones and pioneered the practice of sterilization in surgery.
-Used vaccines to prevent diseases
Trade/Technology:
-Did not advance in technology
-Was a time of trade; Indian products such as spices, cotton and sugar were in high demand in the growing world market, leading to wealth and increased cultural interchange east and west. Trade connections were strengthened between India and China, and Gupta leaders also encouraged increased trading connections with the Near East and even the Roman empire
Economic System:
-All Gupta emperors minted splendid gold coins which have evoked widespread admiration for their technical and sculptural finesse
-Most Gupta gold coins weighed close to 8 grams and had Shri-Laxmi (goddess of wealth) on reverse side of the coin
-Wealth came from slave labor
Time Frame: 320AD- 500AD
Important Leaders:
Chadragupta 1: Born in 305 AD; married Lichchhavi (present day Nepal) princess named Kumaradevi in his teens
Chandragupta II: Was one of the most powerful emperors of the Gupta empire. His rule spanned 375-415 CE, during which the Gupta empire achieved its zenith. The period of prominence of the Gupta dynasty is very often referred to as the Golden Age of India. Chandragupta was the son of the previous ruler, Samudragupta. He attained success by pursuing both a favorable marital alliance and an aggressive expansionist policy. In this his father and grandfather set the precedent.
How it came to power: The destruction of Kushan Empire is how the Gupta Empire came to power in 320AD
Reason for Fall:
When Chandragupta II came to power druing 375AD-415AD, arts and Indian society prospered but the Gupta empire weakened; after the death of one of their greatest kings, Chandragupta II the Gupta Empire began to fall apart. New leaders were not as effective in ruling the government. As the government became weaker, invaders from the Northwest were able to weaken and ultimately destroy the empire. By 600 AD, the Gupta Empire was no more
Unique:
The Gupta Empire was also known as the "Golden Age of India", with the practices in medicine, the concept of 0, the calculations of Pi, etc. were all brought to this day and are still used
Gupta Empire
After the fall of the Maurya Empire in 185 B.C. India went through a period of political unrest and division.
Social:
In the Gupta Empire they used the Brahmanical social order. They classified people, the people high in society were Brahmins, and the lowest in society were the untouchables. They expressed their allegiance to their god through their devotional activities, service to the poor, and patronage of the temple movement; they were kings but also servants, and this pattern of kingship is also found in different periods of Indian history. Women enjoyed more freedom then they had in previous dynasties, they were taught to read and write; some women became philosophers.
The social supremacy of the Brahmins is also reflected in the economy of the Gupta period, as attested by the frequency of tax-free land grants made to them. Villages, along with their inhabitants, revenue due to the king, and even administrative and judicial rights, were transferred to the religious beneficiaries. With the emergence of a localized self-sufficient economy, characterized by the decline of trade and urban centres, land grants to secular officials (either in lieu of salary or as a reward for services) also became popular. As a result, the freedom of the peasantry was curtailed and their mobility was restricted.
Political:
Chandragupta’s son Samudragupta conducted a campaign of expansion that established the largest political unit in South Asia at that time. According to an inscription, Samudragupta uprooted kingdoms and waged wars of extermination along the valleys of the Ganges and Yamuna rivers.
Chandragupta II conquered the western part of India creating the largest empire India had seen in 500 years and bringing the Guptas to power. He also forged an alliance with the Vakataka dynasty of the Deccan plateau through the marriage of his daughter, thereby extending Gupta influence over most of central India. The range of gold, silver, and copper coins issued by the Guptas indicates that the imperial administration exercised close control over a lively economy throughout northern and central India.
-The Gupta Political System gave considerable power to local leaders
-Over these five centuries of political violence, the caste system became even more sharply defined; the number of sub-castes or jati increased dramatically
Religion:
In the Gupta Empire, the main religions are Hinduism and Buddhism.
Hinduism:
-The three-in-one god known as “Brahman,” which is composed of: Brahma (the creator), Vishnu (the Preserver), and Shiva (the Destroyer).
- The Caste System.
-Karma. The law that good begets good, and bad begets bad. Every action, thought, or decision one makes has consequences – good or bad – that will return to each person in the present life, or in one yet to come.
-Reincarnation. Also known as “transmigration of souls,” or “samsara.” This is a journey on the “circle of life,” where each person experiences as series of physical births, deaths, and rebirths. With good karma, a person can be reborn into a higher caste, or even to godhood. Bad karma can relegate one to a lower caste, or even to life as an animal in their next life.
- Nirvana. This is the goal of the Hindu. Nirvana is the release of the soul from the seemingly endless cycle of rebirths.
Buddhism:
The Three Trainings or Practices:
1. Sila: Virtue, good conduct, morality. This is based on two fundamental principles:
- The principle of equality: that all living entities are equal.
- The principle of reciprocity: This is the "Golden Rule" in
Christianity -- to do onto others as you would wish them to do
onto you. It is found in all major religions.
2. Samadhi: Concentration, meditation, mental development. Developing one's mind is the path to wisdom which in turn leads to personal freedom. Mental development also strengthens and controls our mind; this helps us maintain good conduct.
3. Prajna: Discernment, insight, wisdom, enlightenment. This is the real heart of Buddhism. Wisdom will emerge if your mind is pure and calm.
The Eightfold Path:
The Buddha's Eightfold Path consists of:
-Panna: Discernment, wisdom:
1) Samma ditthi Right Understanding of the Four Noble Truths
2) Samma sankappa: Right thinking; following the right path in life
-Sila: Virtue, morality:
3) Samma vaca: Right speech: no lying, criticism, condemning, gossip, harsh language
4) Samma kammanta Right conduct by following the Five Precepts
5) Samma ajiva: Right livelihood; support yourself without harming others
-Samadhi: Concentration, meditation:
6) Samma vayama Right Effort: promote good thoughts; conquer evil thoughts
7) Samma sati Right Mindfulness: Become aware of your body, mind and feelings
8) Samma samadhi Right Concentration: Meditate to achieve a higher state of consciousness
The Five Precepts:
These are rules to live by. They are similar to the 10 commandments.
1. Don't kill.
2. Don't steal.
3. Don't lie.
4. Don't misuse sex.
5. Don't consume alcohol or other drugs.
Intellectual:
-The concept of infinity and "0" (zero) were founded during the Gupta Empire
-Indian mathematicians developed numerals
-Astronomers calculated the value of Pi: 3.1416
-Astronomers also discovered that earth was spherical and rotated on an axis
Medicine:
-Gupta physicians made discoveries about human anatomy and disease
-Physicians set broken bones and pioneered the practice of sterilization in surgery.
-Used vaccines to prevent diseases
Trade/Technology:
-Did not advance in technology
-Was a time of trade; Indian products such as spices, cotton and sugar were in high demand in the growing world market, leading to wealth and increased cultural interchange east and west. Trade connections were strengthened between India and China, and Gupta leaders also encouraged increased trading connections with the Near East and even the Roman empire
Economic System:
-All Gupta emperors minted splendid gold coins which have evoked widespread admiration for their technical and sculptural finesse
-Most Gupta gold coins weighed close to 8 grams and had Shri-Laxmi (goddess of wealth) on reverse side of the coin
-Wealth came from slave labor
Time Frame: 320AD- 500AD
Important Leaders:
Chadragupta 1: Born in 305 AD; married Lichchhavi (present day Nepal) princess named Kumaradevi in his teens
Chandragupta II: Was one of the most powerful emperors of the Gupta empire. His rule spanned 375-415 CE, during which the Gupta empire achieved its zenith. The period of prominence of the Gupta dynasty is very often referred to as the Golden Age of India. Chandragupta was the son of the previous ruler, Samudragupta. He attained success by pursuing both a favorable marital alliance and an aggressive expansionist policy. In this his father and grandfather set the precedent.
How it came to power: The destruction of Kushan Empire is how the Gupta Empire came to power in 320AD
Reason for Fall:
When Chandragupta II came to power druing 375AD-415AD, arts and Indian society prospered but the Gupta empire weakened; after the death of one of their greatest kings, Chandragupta II the Gupta Empire began to fall apart. New leaders were not as effective in ruling the government. As the government became weaker, invaders from the Northwest were able to weaken and ultimately destroy the empire. By 600 AD, the Gupta Empire was no more
Unique:
The Gupta Empire was also known as the "Golden Age of India", with the practices in medicine, the concept of 0, the calculations of Pi, etc. were all brought to this day and are still used
Links to other sites:
http://www.kidspast.com/world-history/0124-guptas-decline.php
http://www.indianetzone.com/5/gupta_dynasty.htm
http://www.fsmitha.com/h1/ch28gup.htm